Importance of mental health awareness  

Awareness is not just for sufferers

When we hear the word mental the first word that comes to our mind is psychology. Psychology is that branch of science that deals with the study of mind and behaviour. The field of psychology is far more vast than only dealing with behaviour. It also deals with mental health, disorders, its symptoms and its treatment and so on. Mental health encompasses emotional, psychological and social well-being. It influences behaviour of a person, HIS development, cognitive ability and ability to perceive things from the environment. It affects how we think, feel, and act as we cope with life. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood to adolescence, and from adulthood till death.

The importance of mental health is far more than it is considered in many countries, and also especially in the rural areas of this country where people do not have any correct knowledge about how the importance of mental health or why mental illness is alarming, and that not giving proper attention to it can lead to far more dangerous situations

Due to rigid and outdated customs of our society, going to a therapist or for mental health counselling is considered very unusual and shameful. However there is nothing bad in taking help from a resource that can take you out from a terrible situation.

The conversation about mental health awareness has never been prevalent or given as much importance as this issue requires. Often, because of misconceptions about mental health many of the cases go silent and untreated. Some highlighted reasons are the rigid customs of the majority of societies, fake superstitions.

Going to a therapist is likely to be considered when the person is severely ill. When we talk about such matters the first thing that is very crucial is awareness among people about it. To raise awareness among people about mental health issues is important, especially in those areas of countries that are considered backward. After all building awareness is a critical ingredient in how to take care of mental health. It is important to know what mental health is and how spreading awareness about it will make an enormous difference for the people who don’t know about it and also for the people who are suffering from problems.

Mental health awareness is an important social movement to both improve understanding and access to a healthy mental and physical life. Islam is the first religion that has given mental health the importance it requires. The Holy Quran can be used a guide for those who are suffering from any kind of mental or emotional distress and aims to lead people to a quality and meaningful life. An important hadith of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) is that “There is no disease that Allah has created, except that he also created its treatment.”

October10, World Mental Health Awareness Day, provides a timely reminder about mental health as an essential for prosperous life and how those who are suffering from any kind of mental issues are deserving of care, help, understanding, healing, fulfilment and much more than just being ignored as the dark part of the society. Mental health and Physical health are equally important components of our overall health. Mental health plays a major role in people’s ability to maintain good physical health. Different types of events should be arranged and everyone should participate in it so that more awareness would prevail among people about mental health.

It is our duty to keep an eye on the people in our surroundings, to have a check on the people we meet or work with on daily basis, if they are suffering from any kind of mental pressure, confusion or illness. We should always make them feel comfortable and try to help them as much as we can so the person knows that it is not immoral to have mental issues and that they are still worthy of respect and deserve care. Showing an individual respect and acceptance can remove significant barriers to successfully coping with their illness. However mental health is not just about having mental illness or disorders.

When an individual is suffering from any kind of mental pressure it is the duty of his or her family, friends and colleagues to have a check on each other and try to help him or her out without telling him or her that he or she needs help.

The environment around the individual has a great importance. That includes the atmosphere in homes, behaviours of others, places of study or work influence one’s mental health greatly. Sometimes people do not bother about the odd or antisocial behaviour of their friends, family or colleagues as unusual that are mostly referred to as initial signs of mental disorders. Lack of interaction, deviant behaviour, isolation, unfriendly acts or lack of an ultimate communication should never be ignored.

Mostly when people are suffering from an extreme stage of a mental disorder, they cannot think of any solution of their problems they feel overwhelmed, full of rage and despair and ending their lives by committing suicide is the only solution they can think about. When those individuals are not given timely attention it leads to a highly disastrous situation and it becomes the end of someone’s precious life.

The suicide rate in all around the world has been massively exceeding day by day especially in Poland, Ukraine, America, North Korea, Russia, African countries and many others. In Seoul the Mapo Bridge has earned the nickname of Suicide Bridge because of how many people jump off it to commit suicide. When thecovid-19 pandemic started and every country went through lockdowns for several month, this also created a sense of depression and stress caused so many suicide attempts especially in Japan, China, England and America.

Everyone should talk more openly about the facts about the importance of mental health. It is an important initiative to improve understanding about mental conditions and increase access to healthcare for those who need it. Connecting with other people, friendly behaviour with everyone, being physically active, arranging events and seminars about mental health. Awareness, prevention early detection, targeted therapy is very important for ensuring effective treatment.

Mental health awareness is an important social movement to both improve understanding and access to a healthy mental and physical life. Islam is the first religion that has given mental health the importance it requires The Holy Quran can be used a guide for those who are suffering from any kind if mental or emotional distress and aims to lead people to a quality and meaningful life. An important hadith of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) is that “There is no disease that Allah has created, except that he also created its treatment.”

Maha Bilal
Maha Bilal
The writer is a freelance columnist.

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